In recent weeks, MonkeyPawGames announced a new campaign called ‘Retro Rush’, where every week a rare PSOne title is released on the PlayStation Network. The first game among the six titles scheduled is an obscure 2D fighter based on the Double Dragon movie from the 1990′s. While the first impression is to immediately shun most movie to game translations (a majority of them are usually quite terrible), Double Dragon, which was developed by Technos of Japan, is a rock-solid 2D fighter with incredibly responsive controls. It may not be common knowledge among some gamers, but Double Dragon first appeared on SNK’s Neo-Geo MVS system. It was later released on their Neo-Geo AES (Advanced Entertainment System) and their less expensive Neo-Geo CD console.
Titles like Double Dragon, Cadillac and Dinosaurs, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Golden Axe were monster hits and have become classics in the beat ’em-up genre, but one in particular deserves a next-gen reboot.
Creators share development stories on the genre-defining, co-op side-scrolling series, from collaborative two-player action to chaotic friendly fire.
Double Dragon 1 arcade is my favourite. It consumed a lot of my parents' money! Both Pounds and Francs.
'Accidental' friendly fire on my brother was always on the menu too!
Being at my local pizzeria while the Double Dragon main theme played in the background is one of my fondest childhood memories.
When I was a kid every weekend after finishing pain in the ass school. I would always rent DD for the SMS always wished my SMS when I was a kid had the FM sound mod to it DD on SMS with the FM I like. I own DD on SMS now bought it dirt cheap in a game lot and I still love playing it. I wish my parents also bought me a NES when I was a kid so I could have enjoyed the other DD games. I played the DD fighting game on the SNES what a complete mess that game is good thing I rented it. Battletoads and DD was a decent game I enjoyed it on my SNES I have never played DD 2 or DD3 on the NES but they look interesting.
Brawlers were a popular genre both in the arcades and on home systems during the 8-bit and 16-bit eras. Due to games such as Streets of Rage 4 they are now enjoying a resurgence. So, prepare for fisticuffs as we go in swinging into part one, where we investigate their origins and their initial rise in popularity. Enjoy.
